Ayrton Senna da Silva

Ayrton Senna was a Brazilian racing driver. A three-time Formula One world champion, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time. He was killed in a crash while leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix and is the last driver to die at the wheel of a Formula One car.

Senna began his motorsport career in karting, moving up to open-wheel racing in 1981 and winning the British Formula 3 championship in 1983. He made his Formula One debut with Toleman-Hart in 1984 before moving to Lotus-Renault the following year and winning six Grands Prix over the next three seasons. In 1988, he joined Frenchman Alain Prost at McLaren-Honda. Between them, they won all but one of the sixteen Grands Prix that year and Senna his first World Championship. Prost claimed the championship in 1989 and Senna his second and third championships in 1990 and 1991. In 1992, the Williams-Renault combination began to dominate Formula One. Senna nonetheless managed to finish the 1993 season as runner-up, winning five races and negotiating a move to Williams in 1994.

In 2009, a poll of 217 current and former Formula One drivers conducted by the British magazine Autosport named Senna as the greatest Formula One driver. He was recognised for his qualifying speed over one lap and from 1989 until 2006 held the record for most pole positions. He was especially quick in wet conditions, as shown by his performances in the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix, the 1985 Portuguese Grand Prix, and the 1993 European Grand Prix. He also holds the record for most victories at the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix – six – and is the third most successful driver of all time in terms of race wins.

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i followed his career from magazine writeups in his first races formula ford and formula 2000 in which he won both championships and didnt actually see him until his appearance on tv in a formula three race in which he left a certain martin brundle in his wake, ithen watched every F1 race he entered and was always mesmerised by his sheer skill and car control especially in the wet it is debatable wether F1drivers could have the same success in world rallying and vice versa but i am positive that this great man would have been world rally champion many times, there isnt a day goes by that i dont miss watching him. God rest his soul. By the way 13 poles in a season !!

It’s unbeliavebly clear that Senna was not the same person he was once he got that contract with Williams and started racing on the new machines. He was definely not comfortable. You can see it on his face; In every single picture shot shown above. He was no longer that happy racer. =((
I will always admire your work and your soul Senna!

Yes, you are absolutely right.
I saw all Senna’s career since the Toleman until the Williams, and something was lost in the soul of our champion when he moved to Williams. Senna had a lot of enemies in the FIA. He was obstinate to be the better pilot with the better car. The joy after sign up with Williams team became frustration to him with the end of the electronic components in the cars for the 1994 season, and that caused a internal turbulence on the Williams. Schumacher’s Benneton was the best car for that new reality, and the Williams never gave to Senna a competitive machine. The pressure over him was enormous. At last, the that car named “from another planet” by Senna in the season 1993 don’t gave to him victories or points, just death.
Thank you for you comment.

My name is Carlos Gonzalez and I live in Texas. I have been an avid fan of racing since childhood. I truly loved and admired Senna’s talents and humanitarianism. It has always been my dream to race competively but it’s not meant to be. Perhaps in another lifetime. I also admire the fact that a female like yourself would admire racing and racers like Senna. Tell me, do you still follow Formula 1? I plan on being a spectator at the first F1 race in the US in quite some time. It will be held in November in Austin, TX. Should you live close or plan to attend please advise. I would love to meet a fellow race fan. Respectfully, Carlos